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Vijay Monarch Wins Godolphin Barb Stakes

By Mirror Image | 21 Feb 2010 | HYDERABAD


Trainer L.V.R.Deshmukh and Mr.Vijay Kumar Gupta leading Vijay Monarch ( P S Chouhan Up), winner of The Godolphin Barb Stakes (Grade-3)

Vittal Deshmukh-schooled Vijay Monarch carried the ‘Pink and Red Star’ silks to an emphatic victory in the Godolphin Barb Stakes (Gr.III) on Sunday at Malakpet, Hyderabad. Entering the home stretch, Magic Million showed up first, closely followed by Ashleen State. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan powered his way on Vijay Monarch and the son of Diffident produced a rousing gallop, to land the spoils. Magic Million stayed on in second while Clear Mandate who was found to be running green, finished third.
 
The upper division of the Artillery Cup had everyone on the edge of their seats, with five horses finishing within half a length. Ruffiano and Tell me a Tale were disputing the issue when Glorious Bay sneaked in through the shortest way along the rails and Royal Tune flew in on the wide outside and as the two shot ahead Indian Storm rallied in through the field and put his nose in between Glorious Bay and Royal Tune to make the job more difficult for the judge. After having a close look at the photo finish, the judge declared a dead-heat between Glorious Bay and Indian Storm. Royal Tune, on whom the rider Imran Khan had lost his whip near the 400 metres, was third, a whisker behind.
 
Prasad Raju’s Flaming Ruby played catch-me-if-you-can, in the lower division of the cup. Flash Flares followed the winner throughout the straight while Mizzna beat King of Court for the third spot. 
 
The speedy Iaepetus made every post a winning one in the H.P. Mistry Memorial Cup. The ten year-old Coral Gables, who has been granted another year of racing life, chased Iaepetus throughout but lost the runner-up berth to Hurricane Bay in the dying moments of the race.
 
P.S. Chouhan blazed the track once again, riding four winners which included a hat-trick. He has had 12 wins in the last four race days at Hyderabad and if the trend continues he could very well pose a threat to Imran Khan in the jockey’s tally. Chouhan rode Strategic Command in the Red Rufus Plate, the concluding race of the day to give trainer Deshmukh a double. While Strategic Command stretched out well to win, Canadian Girl got the better of Combined Force to take the second Spot. 
 
Chouhan had earlier in the day ridden a well-deserved double for trainer Faisal Hassan. Faisal has been having one of the best seasons of his career with 14 wins in his kitty. Aspire beat a good field in the lower division of the Chaitanya Chakram Plate. Inside the final 100 metres, four runners - Dixie Bell, Kathakali, Cascading Glory and Aspire were all in a line, charging towards the finish but Aspire was the one who found the momentum to surge ahead and emerge victorious. Dixie Bell, Cascading Glory and Petradura filled the frame. Bold Brothers was withdrawn after being reluctant to move into the gates.
 
The double for Faisal was through Queen of Hebashe in the Rayalaseema cup, run over five and a half furlongs. Surging past the front-runner Sugar Baby, Queen of Hebashe won convincingly from the late finishing China Girl. Alphine Girl and Suryaputra filled the frame. 
 
Srinagesh-trained Bharadvij covered a lot of ground from the rear to get the better of Avon Gorge in the shadow of the winning post in the Silver Academy Plate, the opening race of the day.
 
True Future turned out to be the biggest upset of the day paying a dividend of Rs 656 on a fiver in the higher division of the Chaitanya Chakram Plate. Royal Shaan made a vain bid but looked to be short of a run.